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Purdue University鈥擶est Lafayette is a public research university that has a 鈥渂ig campus atmosphere鈥� while maintaining a 鈥渟mall school feel within [the] individual colleges.鈥� Though students say to expect a 鈥渄ifficult and rigorous curriculum,鈥� it鈥檚 all in the service of obtaining 鈥渁 world-class education鈥� from a globally recognized university. With over 400 research labs throughout the system, Purdue is noted for its strong reputation in the STEM fields. In particular, it is 鈥渒nown for being a great engineering school,鈥� with about 30 percent of students majoring in engineering. Additionally, the university offers a range of other excellent majors and programs, including 鈥渁 great pharmacy program,鈥� 鈥渁 great nursing program,鈥� and a 鈥渟peech pathology program [that] is one of the best.鈥� Classes across the more than 200 programs offered are described as 鈥渆xcellent and stimulating,鈥� with professors who 鈥渆xpect the most out of you.鈥� They come to class 鈥渧ery excited about鈥�teaching鈥� and encourage students to share a similar enthusiasm for learning. Many instructors are seasoned educators, often having 鈥渁t least ten years under their belts with PhDs.鈥� Students who commit to working hard, collaborating with their peers, and fully immersing themselves in university life will find that Purdue provides 鈥渆verything a college kid could want: sports, academics, clubs, and delicious food.鈥�

While it can seem like most of the students at Purdue are 鈥渨hite and from the Midwest鈥� (almost half of all first-year students are Indiana residents), the student body includes individuals from more than 100 countries and represents a wide array of personalities, backgrounds, and ethnicities. Many students socialize and make friends 鈥渨ithin their majors,鈥� which 鈥渉elps create a small-school feel within a huge university.鈥� People say it鈥檚 not hard to make friends in a place where 鈥渕ost students are really down to earth.鈥� Even those who are initially more reserved can 鈥渇ind their niche here and get along well,鈥� as the welcoming 鈥渁tmosphere on campus coaxes most out of their shell sooner or later.鈥� And once you become a Boilermaker, you are one for life, with the benefit and support of a strong alumni network of over 600,000 individuals spanning the globe.

There are numerous opportunities to get involved on campus, along with plenty of ways to 鈥渦nwind and have fun by joining a club or organization.鈥� With over 1,000 options, there is something for everyone, everything from The Art of the Bonsai Club to Act Natural, Purdue鈥檚 own sketch comedy group. Students can also kick back at the Union Rack and Roll, which features bowling lanes, billiard tables, and arcade games. As a Big Ten school with 鈥済reat school spirit,鈥� Purdue boasts more than 30 varsity teams to root for. Cheering for these teams can feel like a sport in itself: 鈥淲e have Ross-Ade Brigade and Paint Crew, student clubs for cheering on the athletic teams, and they鈥檙e fairly large.鈥� For those who want to participate at a more casual level, there are three dozen intramural sports; students can obtain an Intramural Sports Pass to play as many as they like. There are also plenty of school-sponsored events for students, including the Grand Prix during Gala Week, a 160-lap go-kart race known as 鈥淭he Greatest Spectacle in College Racing,鈥� and Spring Fest, which offers a ton of activities and attractions. While 鈥渢here is always something fun to do on campus,鈥� students can also explore nearby Indianapolis or Chicago for a taste of city life. With so many clubs, sports, and activities available, a 鈥渢ypical student has a hard time completing all three S鈥檚 (sleep, study, socialize) but has fun trying.鈥�

鈥淭he programs to help people out with career development are countless. That鈥檚 definitely a strength at Purdue,鈥� raves one student, and the school leaves them well prepared to navigate life after graduation; indeed, 96.4 percent of the Class of 2021 reported a successful career outcome. The Center for Career Opportunities & Pre-Professional Advising offers guidance on academic majors and career paths, networking and recruiting opportunities, resources for job and internship searches, and coaching on r茅sum茅s, cover letters, and interviews. These services can all be scheduled through Purdue鈥檚 BoilerConnect portal. Overall, 鈥淧urdue has an outstanding reputation for developing difference makers, role models, and individuals who can think outside the box.鈥� Employers clearly agree, and top companies including GM, Charles Schwab, and PepsiCo partner with the university for direct recruitment. Out of Purdue alumni visiting PayScale.com, the median starting salary was $72,900, and 51 percent report feeling as though they derive a high level of meaning from their careers.